SAFEclear - A Traffic Incident Response Program
There's a new program that started in Houston this week called SafeClear. The goal is to remove vehicles off the highways to prevent more accidents and rubber-necking and thus, improve traffic flow.
The deal is that a disabled vehicle will be towed off the highway after six minutes. Minimum towing fee would be $75 to take it off the highway or five miles. After that normal towing fees take effect. If you can't pay, the car is impounded at $124 per day. and if you can't afford the impound fee . . . I guess you lose your car. All because you maybe ran out of gas or had a flat that the nearest service station would have patched for free.
Reports say that the volume is much higher that expected, people are waiting more than an hour and that traffic has not significantly improved.
I looked for the number of tows on the SafeClear site and Houston Transtar and the Mayor's Office of Mobility. Not surprisingly, I did not find any data concerning tows. And the Mayor's Office of Mobility site was a little thin with any information.
Mayor White says that volume should drop as more people understand the program and make sure that their cars are road ready.
I have my doubts.
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